Mini-ITX vs Micro-ATX vs ATX

ATX cases are the largest on the market, followed by Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX.

Here are their sizes:

Standard ATX: 12” x 9.6”

Micro-ATX: 9.6” x 9.6”

Mini-ITX: 6.7” x 6.7”

mATX boards are the same width as regular ATX boards but are a couple of inches shorter. ATX motherboards, given their larger size, can accommodate more PCIe slots and are better candidates for SLI/Crossfire setups.

mITX boards are shorter both length and width than their counterparts, and are best suited for extremely tiny PC builds that are meant to be small and compact.

First of all, the case doesn’t use sheet metal - instead it uses extruded aluminum panels that are thicker and higher quality than traditional aluminum. They give the case a more premium feel all around.

The base configuration is 8.2 liters in volume and uses a sandwich style layout where the motherboard and PSU are in one compartment and there is a separate compartment for the GPU.

It’s the most premium case I’ve reviewed, including mid tower and full tower cases. The build quality and feel is just tremendous.

In addition the case is modular. The top, vertical extension called a tophat can be used to house case fans, a radiator, or storage drives if you wish, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

The tophats can be added to the top or the bottom, so if you’ve already maxed out the room on top with fans, you can add more hard drives to the bottom hat, for example.

This becomes especially useful when you want to upgrade and are running out of room.

Rather than needing to take all of your components out and put them in a new case, you can simply add more room.

Cooling the CPU is the biggest issue when it comes to these smaller cases because you don’t have room for large coolers or normal radiator space. But if there’s one thing the M1 does right, it’s CPU cooling.

You can fit up to a Noctua U9S or C14S quite well.

Liquid cooling is even more impressive - the M1 can fit up to a 240mm AIO, in addition to dual intake fans blowing air up into the case, meaning you can run a 9900K overclocked to 4.9 GHz at 1.25 volts with ease.

If you’re considering overclocking the Ryzen 3000 series CPUs (the 12 core and 16 core CPUs) prioritizing cooling for them is incredibly important, and surprisingly, this ITX case gets the job done without issue.

But that’s not all:

The M1 can accommodate another 240mm radiator on the side of the case, meaning if you want to liquid cool both your CPU and GPU with separate 120mm coolers, you can do that too.

Better still, this case has three expansion slots, so you can fit a thick, powerful GPU like the EVGA 2080 Ti XC Ultra.

All in all, the Ncase M1 is the best case hands down when it comes to pure performance. If you’re going to use your mITX case to house some beefy parts, this is the case for you.

Skyreach 4 Mini

Tiny Mini-ITX Case

Coming it at just 5 liters in volume there is minimal compromise when you consider how tiny this thing is. The Skyreach 4 Mini can fit into a regular sized backpack, which is pretty insane when you think about it.

The graphics card can be up to 210mm in length - that may not seem like a lot, but that means this case can accommodate a card like the RTX 2070 Mini or the Zotac 1080 ti Mini.

For storage you can fit up to two 2.5” drives. CPU cooling is the biggest compromise, as the cooler height maxes out at 45mm which doesn’t seem like a lot, but you can still accommodate noctua L9i or L9a (depending on which CPU you go with) and can comfortably cool an i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU, which is adequate for 95% of games.

With a case like this portability is incredibly important, which is why the Skyreach 4 Mini’s lightweight yet strong material is awesome.

This case is too small to fit even an SFX power supply, which may throw some of you off - instead, it uses a special power supply called an HDPlex 400AC, but you don’t need a power brick for the PSU.

ALthough the price is pretty high for what you’re getting, its compact size is uncontested by any case on the market. No other case is just 5 liters, no other case can fit in a backpack, and considering this tiny thing can still house an RTX 2070, it’s clearly well designed.

You can still fit some bigger components in this case like radiators and bigger GPUs, but considering the QBX is 20 liters as opposed to 12.5 liters, the space optimization isn’t as good.

In addition, the Cougar QBX is made of plastic, lacking the same build quality as the solid aluminum M1.

Still, for such a low price, I’d consider the QBX to be pretty darn good for the price. If you want to build a budget Mini-ITX gaming machine, this is definitely a great case to consider. You can water cool with the QBX since it supports a 240mm AIO, or dual 120mm radiators.

Despite the side panels being plastic, I think the brushed finish looks pretty good and it’s fingerprint resistant.

Advantages of Mini-ITX Cases

Mini-ITX cases are growing increasingly popular among members of the PC Master Race, and for good reason. They bring a ton of benefits to the table that other form factors like Micro-ATX and ATX don’t.

Let’s talk about it:

Saves Space (Duh)

This one is pretty obvious, but I thought I’d include it anyway. Unlike gigantic full tower and even mid tower cases, Mini-ITX cases are small and tiny. They don’t take up much space, which is great if you’re gaming without a lot of real estate to work with.

You could stack three Mini-ITX cases on top of each other, and they still wouldn’t be as big as a standard ATX case.

But here’s the kicker:

You can even put your Mini-ITX case on your desk - crazy, right?

Lighter

Mini-ITX cases are also going to be much lighter than a standard ATX case. Even small ATX cases are heavy.

Although weight probably shouldn’t be a huge factor in your buying decision, it’s still something to consider if you want to move your case around a lot (more on that below).

More Portable

Yeah, this one is obvious, but it’s still one of the main advantages of using a Mini-ITX case.

For example, full tower cases are monstruos in size, not to mention weight. While they’re great for building enthusiast rigs with custom water loops, a lot of storage drives and huge graphics cards, you can basically throw portability out the window.

Even mid tower ATX cases can get pretty heavy.

When I was younger I remember lugging my PC from my mom's house to my dad's house on the weekend, week after week. I'd unplug everything, shove my monitors, cables and peripherals in a bag, and throw them in the trunk along with my heavy mid tower case (that I still use to this day). Looking back, building in a Mini-ITX case would've made way more sense!

With a Mini-ITX case - especially one with handles - moving it around is effortless.

If you’re the kind of gamer that likes to have LAN parties, or you can see yourself moving your new PC around a lot, then I’d highly recommend going with a Mini-ITX case.

Cheaper (Generally)

Generally speaking the smaller the case, the less material goes into making it. The less material that goes into making it, the cheaper it is.

Simple, small cases are usually cheaper than giant, elaborate cases with tons of features which take more time and energy to properly machine.

There are of course exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, Mini-ITX cases are great for budget builders.

Super Cool

Last but not least, Mini-ITX cases are (in my opinion) dope. Most people go the standard route with a traditional mid tower case.

Others may be more adventurous, building in an inverted PC case - but I don’t think anything is cooler than building a mini gaming PC.

They’re portable, unique, and they can actually fit on your desk… who would’ve thought?

If you’re the kind of person that likes to stand out, and show your unique personality, a Mini-ITX case is a great way to do just that.

Disadvantages of Mini-ITX Cases

While Mini-ITX cases are awesome, they have some down sides too.

Not all Components Will Fit

First of all, not all large GPUs will fit inside your case. That tri-fan Titan X you’ve got your eye on? Yeah, you can forget about it.

It’s not all bad in this department though, as most GPU manufacturers have tiny versions of their graphics cards to accommodate small enclosures.

You will also need to consider the height of your CPU cooler, especially if you’re using a thin ITX case.

Room for fans and hard drives is another hurdle, although the cases I’ve recommended on this list make great use of the space available to them.

Building in a small case isn’t the end of the world, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re choosing your components. Websites like PC Part Picker will usually tell you something is too long or too tall.

Mini-ITX has Less Room for Expansion

Even if your case has enough space for the parts you initially select, odds are your upgrade options will be severely limited.

Is Mini-ITX Smaller than Micro-ATX?

Yes, Mini-ITX is the smallest kind of PC case. It’s the opposite of a full tower case which is the largest type of PC case on the market. PC case sizes are measured compared to the motherboard sizes they can support.

Full tower ATX cases can support full-sized ATX and even E-ATX motherboards, whereas small Mini-ITX cases can only support ITX motherboards.

Is Mini-ITX Good for Gaming?

Generally speaking, Mini-ITX is no better or worse for gaming than any other case, since the case doesn’t have a direct impact on performance - the components inside your case are what determine your gaming performance.

However, the size of your case does have an indirect impact on gaming performance.

Here’s what I mean:

As mentioned above, Mini-ITX cases limit the kinds of components that you can use. A smaller case means not all GPUs will fit, so you’ll have to carefully select your graphics card if you’re building a gaming PC.

That tri-fan Titan X you have your eye on? Hate to break it to you, but it probably won’t fit.

But don’t get discouraged - a lot of GPU manufacturers are hip to ITX builds and as a result have a host of small form factor GPUs to choose from.

Another issue is cooling - a smaller case will generally have less room to mount fans, less clearance space for powerful air coolers not to mention water coolers, and worse airflow overall.

You may need to spend more money to get a top-tier Mini-ITX case that is small yet able to house the kind of components you’re looking for.

Those cases do exist, however, and they’re listed in the article above. If you can get your hands on a solid Mini-ITX case that has room for your parts and sufficient airflow, you’re in business! Again, it all comes down to you, your wants/needs, and personal preferences.

Are Mini-ITX Cases Worth It?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, there is only a right answer for you.

Here’s what I mean:

If you want to build a unique gaming PC that’s powerful, portable, and doesn’t take up much space, then using a Mini-ITX case is a great idea (assuming it’s a quality case).

They’re unique looking, small, and use space efficiently. But that convenience comes at a cost.

The most obvious cost is the price (obviously) but there are a few other disadvantages that may hinder a beginner user from building in a tiny ITX case.

Aside from being more expensive, they can be more difficult to build in and aren’t as beginner friendly as an ATX case.

For beginner builders on a budget who don’t want anything too tricky, going for an ATX case is a better option. That doesn’t mean you have to buy a 10 foot tall monstrosity though - we’ve got a guide all about the smallest ATX cases that you’ll probably love. They’re small and easy to use.

Or, if you want a case in between that’s not too big or too small, check out our guide about the smallest Micro-ATX cases.

Conclusion

Mini-ITX cases have their pros and cons, but overall I think they’re pretty awesome, especially if you want an on-the-go computer.

It’s pretty insane that you can build a gaming PC powerful enough to game in 4K resolution, and take it with you in your backpack.

I hope you found this guide informative. For more information on Easy PC, check out our about page and for questions, please feel free to contact me.